This Moment Is About Evolution
There’s a lot of good work happening in school leadership development. Organizations across the country are working hard on pieces of this puzzle — training cohorts, publishing research, building talent pipelines, and deploying consultants. We admire this work, and we’ve been consistent in our call to prioritize leadership development in our schools.
But we’ve also learned something in 35 years of working alongside leaders in the hard moments of real improvement work: pieces aren’t enough. What school leaders need is someone who knows their school and the people in it, deeply understands the research, has built the frameworks, can sit with them when a plan stalls, and can adapt to what’s happening in real time, week after week, year after year.
That’s what we do. And this spring, we’ve found a better way to show it.
Accelerate Institute gave me the vision, structures, procedures, and the confidence to continue the work. I know who I am as a leader now.
Dorienne Canada-Pendleton, Principal
A New Website Built Around Your Journey
Our redesigned website is organized around one simple question: where are you right now, and what do you need? Every page is built to help school and district leaders explore how Accelerate Institute can help them achieve lasting impact.
Let’s Take a Tour
Who We Are
Get to know our why, our approach, our story, and the people behind the work.
- Learn what drives us and why we do this work
- Explore the Accelerate Framework and our coaching approach
- Meet the team that’s been beside school leaders for 35 years
Our Impact
See what’s actually possible when leaders grow.
- Results that matter: 100% of schools we work with improved in ELA or Math
- 91% principal retention rate, compared to a 50% national average
- Real stories from leaders across the country
Programs & Solutions
Everything you need to understand how we can support your goals.
- Browse programs designed for individual leaders and full leadership teams
- Explore strategic support options, including audits, retreats, and coaching
- Find the right combination with our Popular Pairings guide
Explore Programs & Solutions →
Resources
Tools, research, and stories to support your practice — all in one place.
- Read case studies from leaders who’ve done this work
- Access special reports and free tools built for school leaders
- Watch videos and explore past workshops
Mark Your Calendar
There are several important deadlines coming up this spring and summer. Don’t let these slip by:
📋 Program Deadlines
July 1 — Ascend program registration deadline.
July 6 — Leadership Academy registration deadline.
Scholarship Deadline
May 22 — Full scholarships are available for Leadership Academy and Ascend in three regions.
If you are a principal in one of these regions, click on your city below to see if you quality for one of our scholarship options:
🗓️ 2026 Leadership Institute
July 13–16 — Virtual, 3-day intensive for Colorado and districts whose school year begins in early August.
August 3–6 — Virtual, 3-day intensive for Chicago, Milwaukee, and districts whose school year begins in September.
Making High-Quality Support Accessible
Through the generous support of our donors, the cost of all Accelerate Institute programs and services is significantly reduced, ensuring schools and districts can access high-quality leadership development at affordable rates, regardless of budget constraints.
